How To Declutter Your Home | A Handy Checklist

Clutter can seem like a never-ending issue; overflowing drawers, desks piled high with papers, and cupboards that spill their contents. However, there are effective strategies to declutter your spaces and maintain them, and also prepare for long-term self-storage.

Decluttering involves sorting through your home or office and deciding what to keep and what to discard. It’s not about throwing away things that matter but getting rid of the excess. No one needs 25 bath towels or 15 serving spoons. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the amount of stuff you have, don’t worry. Here is a guide on some stress-free packing tips.

How to declutter

Decluttering your house might seem daunting, especially if it’s been a while since your last clear-out. Start small and work in specific sections to avoid feeling overwhelmed. For example, begin with your bedroom to enjoy the immediate reward of a clean space, inspiring you to tackle other areas. You can break it down further, starting with just the cupboards or under the bed. Dividing your spaces into manageable zones prevents you from taking on too much at once and ending up with an even bigger mess.

Tips to remember

1. Be prepared: Use large boxes or plastic tubs labelled ‘keep,’ ‘throw away,’ ‘put back’ (to their proper place), and ‘donate’ to keep track of items. For closets, add boxes labelled ‘to mend’ and ‘seasonal storage.’
2. Be thorough: Go through every single item in your chosen space. Clearing off a desk only to shove everything into drawers defeats the purpose.
3. Get others involved: Make it fun for kids by turning it into a game, or put on a movie in the background for a more enjoyable experience.

Decluttering your home can highlight other areas of your life that might need attention, like a cluttered calendar or a relationship that no longer brings joy. Living in an uncluttered space can bring peace to your mind and relationships as well. By getting familiar with your belongings, you’ll better recognise what to keep, mend, or discard.

Declutter your home checklist

If you’re unsure where to start, here’s a room-by-room checklist. Pick a space and begin. Make sure you have your boxes ready before you start, so you’re not scrambling for containers mid-way. Keep the boxes in an accessible area, play some music, and get ready to transform your home!

Decluttering tip #1 – Bedrooms

• Make your bed first: A simple task that can immediately make the room look neater.
• Bedside tables/bookshelves: Clear off non-essential items. Use a small box or drawer organiser for small items like pens and jewellery.
• Under the bed: Utilise storage solutions like vacuum-sealed bags or under-bed storage bins.
• Dressing tables: Sort through makeup and skincare products. Discard anything expired or unused. Organise the remaining items in drawers or on trays.

Decluttering tip #2 – Closets

• Empty everything out: Take all items out of the closet to get a clear view of what you have.
• Sort items: Create piles for items to keep, mend, donate, and store.
• Seasonal storage: Store off-season clothes in vacuum-sealed bags to save space.
• Hanger trick: Hang clothes with hangers facing one way. After wearing an item, turn the hanger the other way. This helps track what you actually wear.

Decluttering tip #3 – Kitchen

• Utilise wall space: Hang pots and pans on hooks to save cupboard space and add a decorative touch.
• Organise small items: Use spice racks, dividing containers, and carousels inside cupboards to reduce counter clutter.
• Pantry check: Throw out expired items.
• Container purge: Discard old or lidless containers, organising the rest by size and shape.
• Drawer discipline: Be strict about keeping only necessary items.

Decluttering tip #4 – Bathrooms

• Discard expired items: Check under the sink and throw out old products.
• Maximise space: Use toothbrush holders and suctioned racks for hairbrushes or razors to free up counter space.
• Clean as you go: Wipe away hair, makeup, and mould to maintain a clutter-free feel.

Decluttering tip #5 – Living area

• Return items to their rightful places: Use the ‘put back’ box for items that belong elsewhere.
• TV cabinets: Donate unused DVDs and discard broken gaming pieces.
• Clean surfaces: Wipe down surfaces and photo frames.
• Simplify coffee tables: Keep only one or two items, like a vase or coffee book, on the table to maintain a tidy look.

More detailed steps

Bedroom decluttering detailed steps

• Make your bed: A simple task that can immediately make the room look neater.
• Bedside tables and bookshelves: Clear off non-essential items. Use a small box or drawer organiser for small items like pens and jewellery.
• Under the bed: Utilise storage solutions like vacuum-sealed bags or under-bed storage bins.
• Dressing table: Sort through makeup and skincare products. Discard anything expired or unused. Organise the remaining items in drawers or on trays.

Closet decluttering detailed steps

• Empty everything out: Take all items out of the closet to get a clear view of what you have.
• Sort items: Create piles for items to keep, mend, donate, and store.
• Seasonal storage: Store off-season clothes in vacuum-sealed bags to save space.
• Hanger trick: Hang clothes with hangers facing one way. After wearing an item, turn the hanger the other way. This helps track what you actually wear.

Kitchen decluttering detailed steps

• Utilise wall space: Hang pots and pans on hooks to save cupboard space and add a decorative touch.
• Organise small items: Use spice racks, dividing containers, and carousels inside cupboards to reduce counter clutter.
• Pantry check: Throw out expired items.
• Container purge: Discard old or lidless containers, organising the rest by size and shape.
• Drawer discipline: Be strict about keeping only necessary items.

Bathroom decluttering detailed steps

• Discard expired items: Check under the sink and throw out old products.
• Maximise space: Use toothbrush holders and suctioned racks for hairbrushes or razors to free up counter space.
• Clean as you go: Wipe away hair, makeup, and mould to maintain a clutter-free feel.

Living area decluttering detailed steps

• Return items to their rightful places: Use the ‘put back’ box for items that belong elsewhere.
• TV cabinets: Donate unused DVDs and discard broken gaming pieces.
• Clean surfaces: Wipe down surfaces and photo frames.
• Simplify coffee tables: Keep only one or two items, like a vase or coffee book, on the table to maintain a tidy look.

Decluttering your home can be a long process, but it will be worth it in the end. Not only will you come home to a tidy space, but you will also be more practised at keeping only what is important to you. Declutter your office (home or work) in the same way. Spending five extra minutes at the end of every day putting things in their proper place means you will be walking into an organised office the next morning, ready to tackle the day. Keeping these decluttering tips in mind and practising them will ensure you start to live life uncluttered by unnecessary excess.

References

1. Elizabeth Larkin, 2020, How to Declutter Your Home, Room by Room, The Spruce.
2. Joshua Becker, 2019, How To Declutter Your Home: 10 Creative Decluttering Tips, Becoming Minimalist.
3. Amanda Garrity, 2020, 20 Easy Decluttering Tips, According to Experts, Good Housekeeping.